The Bionomic Design and Mixed Reality as Passive Countermeasures in Terrestrial Analogs and Extraterrestrial Habitats

"Convergent research from architectural design, evolutionary psychology and human cognition suggests links between sensed structural patterns of the living environment and the functional efficacy and quality of life experienced by its occupants. A central ‘bionomic-design model’ proposes that ancient spatial and fractal structures of benign ancestral human environments still act as a template for processes which share control of our perception, memory, and emotions. Research shows that the biological fractal structure of the environment can build on innate perceptual, cognitive, emotional and psychosocial evolutionary affinities associated with creative thought, stress reduction, performance, and personal emotional management. First proposed by Taylor (2005), the premise that a pattern’s fractal dimension, rather than it’s naturalness, may be the determining factor for its impact on visual perception and stress-reduction suggests a biologically based ‘biofractal hypothesis’ of effects that offers both an integrative explanation and a countermeasure design strategy of significant power and flexibility where people are deprived of nature’s fractals such as those faced by long duration space crews. Studies have revealed the effectiveness of Mixed Reality (MR) technologies as a tool to improve psychological interventions and promote well-being. Dynamic unobtrusive virtual imagery allows alteration of the perception of real spaces, enhances the interior architecture, and introduces novelty while remaining passive and relatively autonomous. To test the efficacy and effectiveness of biofractals and MR technologies as passive countermeasures addressing the human research goals outlined by NASA and ESA, a program of research is being developed to evaluate psychological functioning related to stress management and adaptation to both terrestrial and extraterrestrial isolated confined environments while exposed to visual stimuli that incorporates biofractal properties in ranges considered to be optimal. Presentation and discussion of the various studies proposed is intended to stimulate interest and input into this emerging new focus in biophilic architectural design."